Cubs Trade Pitcher Back to the White Sox

The Chicago Cubs have made a trade with the White Sox. According to Sahadev Sharma and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, left-handed relief pitcher Bailey Horn is being traded to the White Sox, the team who drafted him in 2020.

The Cubs needed to make a move this week to clear space on the 40-man roster with the signing of Cody Bellinger and Horn ends up being the pitcher, who was speculated would be moved.

In return the Cubs are acquiring right-handed pitcher Matt Thompson.

Horn, 26, began the 2023 season at Double-A, where he posted a 2.00 ERA in nine innings. Horn was promoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he ended the year with a 4.58 ERA in 53 innings. The lefty had 59 strikeouts to 29 walks in his 39 relief appearances at Triple-A.

The Cubs acquired Horn back in 2021, when they traded veteran reliever Ryan Tepera to the White Sox.

As for Thompson, he was a 2019 second round pick of the White Sox out of high school. The 23-year-old made 27 starts in 2023 at Double-A, finishing the year with a 4.85 ERA in 124.1 innings. The right-handed pitcher struck out 136 batters, but struggled with walks, giving up 85 BBs in his 27 starts.